SIX THE BAYONET: CAMP LEE, VA., FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1918 7. Amounts under one policy 28 8. Time limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29; 10 9. Increase and decrease of amount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31 10. Kind of insurance . . . . . . . . 32 11. Continuing insurance after the war; conversion; estimated future cost; kind of insurance, etc. . . . . . . 33-37 12. Unassignable . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 13. Cost per thousand . . . . . . . . 39-40 14. Payment of premium and lapsing because of non-payment 15. Benefit to soldiers' dependents and himself in case of death or total disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 49 1-Q. Has a soldier any financial obligations or duties other than the present support of himself and his dependents? A. Yes. He is at all times chargeable with his own preper support both now and in the future, and he is moreover, morally charged with the duty of making proper future provision for his dependents. 2-Q. What is commonly considered to be the least burdensome means by which a soldier can provide against the future? A. By means of insurance, which can be bought by the solider during his lifetime, and while he is still in good health and proper physical condition. 3-Q. Why should a solider endeavor to provide against future contingencies during his lifetime? A. The future welfare of a disabled or incapacitated solider, or the future protection of his dependents is a duty with which ever man is properly chargeable during his lifetime. In general, it may be said that the greatest, and at the same time the most commonly recognized and accepted obligations placed upon every man, whether he be a solider or not, is that duty laid upon him to be and remain a self-supporting member of society, and this duty applies with even greater force to such men who have voluntarily or otherwise assumed the obligation of the support and protection of a wife or family, or other dependents. Nearly every man can, if he will, undertake and properly discharge these duties during his lifetime, but not all can so arrange their affairs as to insure that in the event of death or disablement themselves and their families and dependents will not suffer from the lack of sufficient means to continue so. It is mainly because of this that plans of insurance have been worked out and developed whereby a man in his lifetime can provide against the future. Long experience has demonstrated that insurance is practicable, and has, moreover, also demonstrated that it is in many instances the only means by which a greater majority of men can secure a competence for themselves and their families. 4-Q. Is not the cost of a sufficiently adequate amount of insurance as sold by most companies more than the solider can pay? A. In very many cases it is. Moreover, for a soldier its costs is usually so high as to be absolutely prohibitive. 5-Q. How then can a soldier who recognizes his future financial duties and obligations and desires to properly discharge them be expected to do so when the cost of the only available means is beyond him? A. The government of the Unitied States has appreciated the difficulties which beset the soldier who desires to take out insurance, and by reason of his occupation and scanty rate of pay is prevented from doing so. It has also recognized that the best means to enable the soldier to do so is to make it possible for him to buy insurance. The government, therefore, prepared and arranged a plan of insurance whereby the soldier can protect himself and his dependents in the future. It has also been practical enough to recognize that this insurance must be brought within the means of the soldier, and in order to do this the government has charged itself with defraying by far the greatest portion of the cost of such insurance. It is because of this fact that the government insurance can only be taken advantage of by soldiers and sailors and others in the military and naval forces of the United States. 6-Q. Has the government provided propery and adequate insurance for the solider at a price which will permit him to buy it even after he has made allotments of the greater portion of his pay in order to secure allowances for his dependents during the war? A. It has. 7-Q. When a man is a soldier, why should he be asked to buy insurance either for himself, in case of disablement, or for his dependents in the case of death? Why should not the government provide for the soldier and his dependents in the future without any present or future cost to the soldier? A. Many soldiers who have not given the requirement on the part of the government that they should themselves purchase insurance and provide so far as they are able for the future due consideration will argue that in as much as the government demands all of their service and all of their time, and may, perhaps, deman that they give up their lives in the performance of their military duties, should give this protection to soldiers and their dependents without cost to them. Upon first consideration, this point of view will be considered by many soldiers as right and proper. If the soldier will, however, reason a few steps further, he will understand that this government, of which he asks and demands all things, is really, in the last analysis, himself, and his bunkie and his family and his dependent; or, to put smply, the government of the United States is just a large community of soldiers and civilians. men, women and children. each contributing their little part to the whole, and all of them together, in their collective capacity, making up and forming what is called "the government of the United States." A little further though and he will understand that he himself, while he is still a soldier, is none the less a part of the government, and is really in his proper and just proportion chargeable with and entitled to carry a portion of the cost of the government insurance which he buys. 8-Q. Is this government insurance then, intended to take the place of the former method of pensioning soldiers who have been disabled in the service, or in the event of a soldier's death of providing for the support of their dependents? A. As the law now stands, the pension system is a thing of the past for the soldier of this war. The government insurance has been provided in its place. The time has now arrived when the government and people of this country have realized the true nature of their obligations with reference to those who have borne the brunt of the battle and suffered thereby. The right of those unfortunates to the gratitude and bounty of the government is still undisputed and still recognized. The intelligence of the times, however, has demanded that the means by which that right be recognized be placed upon a basis more just and equitable both to the solider and to the government than was possible under the pension system.

+

SIX THE BAYONET: CAMP LEE, VA., FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1918 7. Amounts under one policy 28 8. Time limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29; 10 9. Increase and decrease of amount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31 10. Kind of insurance . . . . . . . . 32 11. Continuing insurance after the war; conversion; estimated future cost; kind of insurance, etc. . . . . . . 33-37 12. Unassignable . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 13. Cost per thousand . . . . . . . . 39-40 14. Payment of premium and lapsing because of non-payment 15. Benefit to soldiers' dependents and himself in case of death or total disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 49 1-Q. Has a soldier any financial obligations or duties other than the present support of himself and his dependents? A. Yes. He is at all times chargeable with his own preper support both now and in the future, and he is moreover, morally charged with the duty of making proper future provision for his dependents. 2-Q. What is commonly considered to be the least burdensome means by which a soldier can provide against the future? A. By means of insurance, which can be bought by the solider during his lifetime, and while he is still in good health and proper physical condition. 3-Q. Why should a solider endeavor to provide against future contingencies during his lifetime? A. The future welfare of a disabled or incapacitated solider, or the future protection of his dependents is a duty with which ever man is properly chargeable during his lifetime. In general, it may be said that the greatest, and at the same time the most commonly recognized and accepted obligations placed upon every man, whether he be a solider or not, is that duty laid upon him to be and remain a self-supporting member of society, and this duty applies with even greater force to such men who have voluntarily or otherwise assumed the obligation of the support and protection of a wife or family, or other dependents. Nearly every man can, if he will, undertake and properly discharge these duties during his lifetime, but not all can so arrange their affairs as to insure that in the event of death or disablement themselves and their families and dependents will not suffer from the lack of sufficient means to continue so. It is mainly because of this that plans of insurance have been worked out and developed whereby a man in his lifetime can provide against the future. Long experience has demonstrated that insurance is practicable, and has, moreover, also demonstrated that it is in many instances the only means by which a greater majority of men can secure a competence for themselves and their families. 4-Q. Is not the cost of a sufficiently adequate amount of insurance as sold by most companies more than the solider can pay? A. In very many cases it is. Moreover, for a soldier its costs is usually so high as to be absolutely prohibitive. 5-Q. How then can a soldier who recognizes his future financial duties and obligations and desires to properly discharge them be expected to do so when the cost of the only available means is beyond him? A. The government of the Unitied States has appreciated the difficulties which beset the soldier who desires to take out insurance, and by reason of his occupation and scanty rate of pay is prevented from doing so. It has also recognized that the best means to enable the soldier to do so is to make it possible for him to buy insurance. The government, therefore, prepared and arranged a plan of insurance whereby the soldier can protect himself and his dependents in the future. It has also been practical enough to recognize that this insurance must be brought within the means of the soldier, and in order to do this the government has charged itself with defraying by far the greatest portion of the cost of such insurance. It is because of this fact that the government insurance can only be taken advantage of by soldiers and sailors and others in the military and naval forces of the United States. 6-Q. Has the government provided propery and adequate insurance for the solider at a price which will permit him to buy it even after he has made allotments of the greater portion of his pay in order to secure allowances for his dependents during the war? A. It has. 7-Q. When a man is a soldier, why should he be asked to buy insurance either for himself, in case of disablement, or for his dependents in the case of death? Why should not the government provide for the soldier and his dependents in the future without any present or future cost to the soldier? A. Many soldiers who have not given the requirement on the part of the government that they should themselves purchase insurance and provide so far as they are able for the future due consideration will argue that in as much as the government demands all of their service and all of their time, and may, perhaps, deman that they give up their lives in the performance of their military duties, should give this protection to soldiers and their dependents without cost to them. Upon first consideration, this point of view will be considered by many soldiers as right and proper. If the soldier will, however, reason a few steps further, he will understand that this government, of which he asks and demands all things, is really, in the last analysis, himself, and his bunkie and his family and his dependent; or, to put smply, the government of the United States is just a large community of soldiers and civilians. men, women and children. each contributing their little part to the whole, and all of them together, in their collective capacity, making up and forming what is called "the government of the United States." A little further though and he will understand that he himself, while he is still a soldier, is none the less a part of the government, and is really in his proper and just proportion chargeable with and entitled to carry a portion of the cost of the government insurance which he buys. 8-Q. Is this government insurance then, intended to take the place of the former method of pensioning soldiers who have been disabled in the service, or in the event of a soldier's death of providing for the support of their dependents? A. As the law now stands, the pension system is a thing of the past for the soldier of this war. The government insurance has been provided in its place. The time has now arrived when the government and people of this country have realized the true nature of their obligations with reference to those who have borne the brunt of the battle and suffered thereby. The right of those unfortunates to the gratitude and bounty of the government is still undisputed and still recognized. The intelligence of the times, however, has demanded that the means by which that right be recognized be placed upon a basis more just and equitable both to the solider and to the government than was possible under the pension system. The experience of nearly half a century demonstrated that the old pension system was unfair, unwieldy and impracticable. All sorts of abuses crept in under its provisions, and many who were deserving of pensions either asked for none at all or received inadequate or improper amounts. Others, not properly entitled to pensions, received and still do receive them. Although nearly sixty years has elapsed since the last great war, the annual sums set aside to-day for the payment of pensions exceed the enormous sum of $160,000,000 and show no present indication of diminishing.

Revision as of 09:23, 27 May 2017

SIX THE BAYONET: CAMP LEE, VA., FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1918 7. Amounts under one policy 28 8. Time limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29; 10 9. Increase and decrease of amount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31 10. Kind of insurance . . . . . . . . 32 11. Continuing insurance after the war; conversion; estimated future cost; kind of insurance, etc. . . . . . . 33-37 12. Unassignable . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 13. Cost per thousand . . . . . . . . 39-40 14. Payment of premium and lapsing because of non-payment 15. Benefit to soldiers' dependents and himself in case of death or total disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 49 1-Q. Has a soldier any financial obligations or duties other than the present support of himself and his dependents? A. Yes. He is at all times chargeable with his own preper support both now and in the future, and he is moreover, morally charged with the duty of making proper future provision for his dependents. 2-Q. What is commonly considered to be the least burdensome means by which a soldier can provide against the future? A. By means of insurance, which can be bought by the solider during his lifetime, and while he is still in good health and proper physical condition. 3-Q. Why should a solider endeavor to provide against future contingencies during his lifetime? A. The future welfare of a disabled or incapacitated solider, or the future protection of his dependents is a duty with which ever man is properly chargeable during his lifetime. In general, it may be said that the greatest, and at the same time the most commonly recognized and accepted obligations placed upon every man, whether he be a solider or not, is that duty laid upon him to be and remain a self-supporting member of society, and this duty applies with even greater force to such men who have voluntarily or otherwise assumed the obligation of the support and protection of a wife or family, or other dependents. Nearly every man can, if he will, undertake and properly discharge these duties during his lifetime, but not all can so arrange their affairs as to insure that in the event of death or disablement themselves and their families and dependents will not suffer from the lack of sufficient means to continue so. It is mainly because of this that plans of insurance have been worked out and developed whereby a man in his lifetime can provide against the future. Long experience has demonstrated that insurance is practicable, and has, moreover, also demonstrated that it is in many instances the only means by which a greater majority of men can secure a competence for themselves and their families. 4-Q. Is not the cost of a sufficiently adequate amount of insurance as sold by most companies more than the solider can pay? A. In very many cases it is. Moreover, for a soldier its costs is usually so high as to be absolutely prohibitive. 5-Q. How then can a soldier who recognizes his future financial duties and obligations and desires to properly discharge them be expected to do so when the cost of the only available means is beyond him? A. The government of the Unitied States has appreciated the difficulties which beset the soldier who desires to take out insurance, and by reason of his occupation and scanty rate of pay is prevented from doing so. It has also recognized that the best means to enable the soldier to do so is to make it possible for him to buy insurance. The government, therefore, prepared and arranged a plan of insurance whereby the soldier can protect himself and his dependents in the future. It has also been practical enough to recognize that this insurance must be brought within the means of the soldier, and in order to do this the government has charged itself with defraying by far the greatest portion of the cost of such insurance. It is because of this fact that the government insurance can only be taken advantage of by soldiers and sailors and others in the military and naval forces of the United States. 6-Q. Has the government provided propery and adequate insurance for the solider at a price which will permit him to buy it even after he has made allotments of the greater portion of his pay in order to secure allowances for his dependents during the war? A. It has. 7-Q. When a man is a soldier, why should he be asked to buy insurance either for himself, in case of disablement, or for his dependents in the case of death? Why should not the government provide for the soldier and his dependents in the future without any present or future cost to the soldier? A. Many soldiers who have not given the requirement on the part of the government that they should themselves purchase insurance and provide so far as they are able for the future due consideration will argue that in as much as the government demands all of their service and all of their time, and may, perhaps, deman that they give up their lives in the performance of their military duties, should give this protection to soldiers and their dependents without cost to them. Upon first consideration, this point of view will be considered by many soldiers as right and proper. If the soldier will, however, reason a few steps further, he will understand that this government, of which he asks and demands all things, is really, in the last analysis, himself, and his bunkie and his family and his dependent; or, to put smply, the government of the United States is just a large community of soldiers and civilians. men, women and children. each contributing their little part to the whole, and all of them together, in their collective capacity, making up and forming what is called "the government of the United States." A little further though and he will understand that he himself, while he is still a soldier, is none the less a part of the government, and is really in his proper and just proportion chargeable with and entitled to carry a portion of the cost of the government insurance which he buys. 8-Q. Is this government insurance then, intended to take the place of the former method of pensioning soldiers who have been disabled in the service, or in the event of a soldier's death of providing for the support of their dependents? A. As the law now stands, the pension system is a thing of the past for the soldier of this war. The government insurance has been provided in its place. The time has now arrived when the government and people of this country have realized the true nature of their obligations with reference to those who have borne the brunt of the battle and suffered thereby. The right of those unfortunates to the gratitude and bounty of the government is still undisputed and still recognized. The intelligence of the times, however, has demanded that the means by which that right be recognized be placed upon a basis more just and equitable both to the solider and to the government than was possible under the pension system. The experience of nearly half a century demonstrated that the old pension system was unfair, unwieldy and impracticable. All sorts of abuses crept in under its provisions, and many who were deserving of pensions either asked for none at all or received inadequate or improper amounts. Others, not properly entitled to pensions, received and still do receive them. Although nearly sixty years has elapsed since the last great war, the annual sums set aside to-day for the payment of pensions exceed the enormous sum of $160,000,000 and show no present indication of diminishing.